Customer Reviews

Women and Country

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First off - why albums are released at different times around the world is a source of great frustration to me. The US had the initial release on the 6th, Europe on the 19th and Japan [rest of the world] when someone can be bothered. Fortunately import versions are available to anyone prepared to pay a little extra. And simply this album is worth paying a little extra for. The mix on the album and the overall sound is quite beautiful.

I read some criticism of this album, complaining that Jakob and his vocals had been, somehow, dumped into backing tracks and a different genre that was totally inappropriate. I just dont hear that at all, the sound and the mix for me is almost perfect. Very sympathetic. I also dont think this a country recording as other listeners suggested, sure some songs have a slight country tinge, but I even have problems labelling this Americana. At any other point in time eg. 10 years ago this would be a rock album to everyone and it is too me.

Jakobs lyrics are interesting and his voice is great, the backing and playing is just top-notch. As a producer T-Bone Burnett does not have many peers, and it was inevitable that they would work together again, considering the success they had with "Bringing Down The Horse".

Its hard to pick out particular songs - but I will try.

The song "Lend a hand" sounds like it would not be out of place on a Tom Waits album, around the raindogs period, a great New Orleans/Jazzy feel to it. "Nothing but the whole wide world" - a great lilting ballad which has beautiful harmonies from Neko Case. Actually on most of the album the harmonies are great and give a very warm feel. The country-tinge continues on the gentle "down on our own shield". "We don't live here anymore" has a dreamy quality to it, the track "yonder come the blues" is very a understated lullaby, singing about bad times following good with a world-weary inevitabilty. "Everybody's hurting" has lovely harmonies and talks about suffering in a rural setting, families unable to move but dreaming of a better life, possibly a commment on todays economy and related problems - it has a real folky/country feel to it really nice backing and fiddle playing. "Truth for truth" has a beautiful Chris Isaak type guitar backing. "They trapped us boys" has a strong banjo/mandolin sound. "Smile when you call me that" is a song after the breakdown of a relationship/marriage with memorable lyrics to the fore - "I am down on my knees, when you wont have me back, can you at least smile when you call me that" - this for me is very remminiscent of a Springsteen sound, around greetings period but I cant remember which song it is. The final song gets back to a sound which would not be out of place on a Waits album, a dark jazzy sound and great lyrics.

Its a great album it suggests many other artists work, but it memorable in its own right and I am sure I will continue to enjoy it. If you are a Jakob fan, from the wallflowers period, or his solo work you will enjoy this. If you are a fan of mainstream US singersongwriter rock this should appeal to you, its a very mature sound. If you are here because you enjoy T-Bone Burnettes work he doesnt put a step out of place here. Yes, I recommend it without reservation. I have a feeling it will be making quite a few year end lists.

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Highlights -

Nothing but the whole wide world
Everybody's hurting
Smile when you call me that
Lend a hand

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Incidently check out the Rolling Stone magazine, they play 4 of the tracks live in the studio. Its Great stuff.

Jakob Dylan's solo debut "Seeing things" was a largely stripped acoustic affair produced by Rick Rubin. His sophomore disc is produced by T Bone Burnett and features harmonies by Neko Case and Kelly Hogan set against a fuller musical backdrop.

The gentle "Nothing but the whole wide world" has sweeping strings, fiddle, and beautiful female harmonies intertwined with Dylan's for a lovely Country song. Even more melancholic but startingly lovely is "Down on our own shield".

The dramatic "Lend a hand" has a whole different pseudo-Jazzy feel with horns, plodding marching beats, and dramatic lyrics. "We don't live here anymore", also with gently plodding beats and fiddle is darker.

"Everyboby's hurting" is a sweeping Country song with lovely harmonies, while the ever so gentle lilting "Yonder come the Blues" reminds me of Bruce Springsteen's more tender moments.

Every song is a delight really; the gentle "Holy rollers for love", the more upbeat but still forlorn-sounding "Truth for a truth", the Folky "They've trapped us boys", the swaying "Smile when you call me that", and the horn-sprinkled upbeat "Standing eight count" (with gently thumping beats and chugging bass).

Much as his debut was beautiful in it's simplicity, I feel this is even better and another winner.

I'm a huge fan of this collection of related and interwoven songs. They're all of a piece, certainly, but each song stands on its own, too. There's a clear T-Bone Burnett stamp on this music, in much the same way that he orchestrated the magic between Robert Plant and Allison Krauss in the phenomenal Raising Sand, and before that with The Wallflower's Bringing Down the Horse. At this point, I'd probably buy anything T Bone produced.

However, the excellence of T-Bone's production aside, this is a beautiful and haunting collection of songs. Jakob has most definitely assumed his own place in the firmament of musicians apart from the very large footprints his dad left. I've been listening to and rooting for him since his first outing with the Wallflowers back in the 90's. He constantly proves himself more grounded as a musician and surer of his voice, as this wonderful disc shows. (Check out Dylan + collaborators on the net performing several of these of these songs at NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series.)

This disc has been in my car's six-disc player since it came out and I can't see replacing it anytime soon. I really love this music.

I love this project, but I think it would have been much better without T-Bone Burnett.

Neko Case lends Dylan herself as backing vocalist, and her whole damn band, including on the tour. How many artists with her solo career would do something like this? Awesome.

The songs are good, and Neko and Hogan sound great on the harmonies... when you can hear them. Unfortunately, they are mostly buried under totally inappropriate bouncy bass lines and overall syrupy soft overproduction. If you want to hear how good these songs can sound, try the "Tiny Desk Concert" of 3 songs on NPR's website/podcast, or fish around on youtube. Incredible!

So, it's 5 stars for the project and 1 star for the production, averaging out to 3.

Love this so much. Great to sing-a-long in the car. Great structure, Jakob Dylan is a fabulous singer-songwriter.

This is a very impressive CD release by the talented singer-songwriter Jakob Dylan, titled "Women And Country". He composed all the songs on this solid CD & was produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett (John Mellencamp, Counting Crows, etc). His sound on this CD is quite similar to what his father does (but different to his band 'Wallflowers') : folk rock with a countryish touch and rather well crafted for this 'young man'! The CD opens this a solid track/gem, "Nothing But The Whole World" : a beautiful folk rock track with 'countryish base track'. The song does give an overall impression/drift of the album. "Down On Our Own Shield" is another solid track/gem with great melody & harmonies. "Lend A Hand" is a great track : great saxophone/drums combination, great guitar with 'patchy' vocals. "We Don't Live Here Anymore" is a good track : good Spanish guitar, violin & vocals. "Everybody Hurting" is a solid track/gem : a beautiful violin & drum combination with matching great guitar & great vocals. "Yonder Come The Blues" is another solid track/gem : wonderful violin & bass combination with great melody & harmonies. "High Rollers For Love" is a good track with good violin/bass/rhythm guitar combination. "Truth For A Truth" is great track with simple but yet effective lyrics. "They've Trapped Us Boys" is a solid track/gem with a beautiful Spanish guitar/banjo, a great chorus & melody. This is my favourite track from this great album. "Smile When You Call Me That" is another solid track/gem with great guitar, beautiful chorus & harmony. The album closes with a great track, "Standing Eight Count". On overall, this is a very impressive compositions (Jakob Dylan) & well crafted production (T-Bone Burnett). His legendary father (Bob Dylan) would certainly be pround of his son's (Jakob Dylan) effort on this album, but it's not easy walking on the shadow of a great legend. I was rather surprisingly blown away by this solid CD release, "Women And Country", a highly recommended listening.

This CD is wonderful. Jakob has created an experience and a dreamweaving platform. His voice is molten and velvety flanked by the complimentary harmony of Neko and Hogan. It's good chemistry that clearly comes through. I hope Jakob continues to grow in this direction - it suites him well.

There was something about WOMEN + COUNTRY, Jakob Dylan's second solo album, that, upon my first listen, caused me to pause. Compared to 2008's brilliant SEEING THINGS, which seemed so lush and full-bodied with just guitar and bass basically backing each track, this album seemed...cluttered. The saying "Sometimes less is more" kept twirling in my head.
But sometimes "more can be more" as well....as in, "More instruments add more layers" and "More listens allow all the special moments to rise to the top." What it boils down to is, WOMEN + COUNTRY is an absolutely captivating piece of work, every bit as good as SEEING THINGS. Yes, I have an issue or two with it (more on that later!), but the fact remains...Jakob Dylan is on a roll!
Opening up the disc is the gently rocking "Nothing But The Whole Wide World." Dylan's lead vocal is sublime, while the instrumentation perfectly anchors the thoughtful lyrics: "I ain't got no money/Can't get no love/Never was too good at either of them/I'm here for adventure/Whichever way it comes/But what good is an angel that won't catch up?" The perfect way to kick things off!
"Down On Our Own Shield" is a little more somber, but that's okay...there's a classic Jackson Browne/Warren Zevon vibe going on here, and it's one that totally works. Dylan's lead vocal is understated, yet moving (particularly on the line "It's not the kind of trick/That you get to pull twice"), while the backing vocals ~ courtesy of Neko Case and Kelly Hogan ~ are simply angelic. Lovely.
"Lend A Hand" is special because it's just a little more edgy, a tad bit quirkier (And on an album that seems to sail along at mostly the same clip, well, that's a good thing!). Bluesy, boozy and bawdy, it shuffles along like some New Orleans juke jam theme song. Stinging guitar, slinky percussion and wa-wa-wonderful horns all come together in an arrangement that is pitch perfect. Add a relaxed lead vocal and you have one of my favorite cuts!
"We Don't Live Here Anymore" is another favorite of mine. There's a groove to it that could almost be described as menacing, but at the same time it's TOTALLY captivating! Dylan's lead vocal just exudes darkness and danger, all Gothic and grim. Special mention also has to be made of David Mansfield's brillint banjo and fiddle playing....talk about atmospheric! WOW!! Love it!!!
It's at this point that things get bogged down a bit, be it ever so slightly. It's not that this block of songs is bad...it's just that we've heard it all before, both from Dylan and producer T-Bone Burnett. These are songs that Dylan has been doing his entire career, both on his own and with the Wallflowers....same pitch, same groove, same melody. Ditto Burnett...a lot of these tracks could fit here, on the upcoming John Mellencamp CD or Robert Plant and Allison Krauss' excellent RAISING SAND. It's O.K. to have a signature sound, but you don't ever want it to cross over into predictability.
That said, each song has it's own special moments and small charms, particularly "Everybody's Hurting", with it's brilliant blend of acoustic bass, Mansfield's sterling fiddle and muted horns.
On a different album, say, one where it followed one or two upbeat tracks, "Yonder Comes The Blues" would have been a great album closer. Here it's just a tad bit...sleepy. Ditto "Holly Rollers Of Love"...it's nice enough, but it just never really takes off. It does try...sort of....kind of...buuuuut....it...just....never...happens!
Things rebound big time with the Quentin Tarantino/spaghetti Western-flavored "Truth For A Truth." Talk about atmospheric....there is just SO much attitude and feeling and mesmerising power both to and in this song! Dylan's lead vocal just draws you in, partially because it is so perfectly cushioned by the ethereal instrumentation. Another one of WOMEN + COUNTRY's finest moments!
"They've Trapped Us Boys" is what they used to call a great "album track"...not a standout cut, but one that definitely adds something positive to the overall quality of the disc. There's a real nice push-and-pull vibe here...the lilting arrangement is in stark contrast to the extremely dark story the lyrics are telling (Kudos once again to Mansfield, this time for his mandolin playing. Ditto veteran musician Greg Leisz on pedal steel).
There's an easy-going charm, as well as a profound sadness, to "Smile When You Call Me That." Leisz' pedal steel guitar sets the mood, with Dylan's wounded lead vocal clinching the deal. Add stinging lyrics to the mix ("I'm drunk and you're insane/I can't quit and you won't change"), and you have another one of W+C's true gems!
Things end on a strong note with the horn-drenched "Standing Eight Count." With it's pounding backbeat and hypnotic brass section, the song just works it's way into your head and doesn't let go. Dylan's lead vocal is mysterious, yet pointed, while the instrumentation is top notch. An absolutely brilliant way to wrap things up!
With SEEING THINGS and now WOMEN + COUNTRY, Jakob Dylan has delivered his two strongest, most mature, releases to date. At a truly exceptional point in his career, here's hoping he continues to dig ever deeper, challenging himself as he continues to grow. (As with all my reviews, I'm giving the disc an extra half a star for including the lyrics).

I just can't complain about this album! Jakob Dylan's music has always moved me, no matter what style he chooses - it always suits his lyrics. I grew up hearing my Uncle playing stand-up bass and practically everyone in my family plays guitar, so this album really hit a home run for me! I absolutely LOVE the country flare to all the songs! Neko Case/Kelly Hogan/Jakob Dylan's voices all compliment each other too!

My 17 month old granddaughter, Ellie, will sing on "Nothing" along with Jakob which makes his music really come alive with me.